Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 17 December 2003

66 articles found

City yet to fully prepare for the floods

City yet to fully prepare for the floodsTony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Dredging Jakarta's rivers ahead of the rainy season and expected devastating floods is yet to begin in earnest, despite the deadline for the US$4.3 million project set for Saturday.

Gatotkaca's dream: Born to fly, but not too high

Gatotkaca's dream: Born to fly, but not too highNovan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In ancient Greek mythology, Icarus is depicted as representing man's desire to fly like the birds, while here in Indonesia we have a similar mythological figure: Gatotkaca, a character from the classical...

New BNI chief pledges to strengthen internal supervision

New BNI chief pledges to strengthen internal supervisionRendi A. Witular and Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The newly appointed president of state-owned Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), Sigit Pramono, said he would improve internal supervisory systems at the country's second largest bank...

Police win case against President

Police win case against President JAKARTA: Former Jakarta Police chief Com. Gen. Nugroho Djayusman and six other police officers have won a court case against President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Indonesian Police chief Gen. Da'i Bahctiar, paving the way for their return to the police force.

Terms of support

Terms of support Those who have frequently attacked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the tough lending conditions it has imposed on the Indonesian government should feel further outraged by the outcome and messages of the 13th annual meeting of the creditor consortium, the Consultative...

45 people fined in ID raids

45 people fined in ID raidsEvi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta North Jakarta and Central Jakarta municipalities fined a total of 45 people on Tuesday for not having proper identity cards during two raids at Wisma Gading Permai apartment in Kelapa Gading Timur, North Jakarta, and at boarding...

Nearly 30,000 haj pilgrims denied entry to Mecca

Nearly 30,000 haj pilgrims denied entry to MeccaThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Almost 30,000 Indonesians have to delay until 2005 their trip to Mecca to perform their haj pilgrimage after the Saudi Arabian government canceled the additional quota for Indonesian haj pilgrims for 2004.

All missing girls found dead in Aceh

All missing girls found dead in Aceh LHOKSEUMAWE, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam: After searching for three days, a joint search and rescue team found the bodies of five missing girls who were drowned after their wooden boat capsized in Krueng Puto River in Lhoksukon subdistrict, North Aceh, an official...

Nationalist spirit needed

Nationalist spirit neededFrom Suara KaryaThe human rights (HAM) institution in settling national issues arising in Indonesia applies methods that lack a sense of nationalism. In other words, it has apparently never struggled for national interests.

Ex-Citibank banker to head BII

Ex-Citibank banker to head BIIEva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Shareholders of the publicly-listed Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII) appointed on Tuesday Henry Ho, an ex-Citibank banker, as the new president of the country's sixth largest bank in terms of assets.

Japanese Sushi, sashimi; a feast for the eyes and body

Japanese Sushi, sashimi; a feast for the eyes and bodyMaria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Because of their beautiful shapes and colorful presentation, some fans liken sushi and sashimi to Japanese culinary jewelry in a serving dish.

Khamenei says satisfied over arrest of Saddam, targets Bush, Sharon

Khamenei says satisfied over arrest of Saddam, targets Bush, SharonHossein Jasseb, Agence France-Presse, Tehran Iran's supreme leader declared on Tuesday that all Iranians were "pleased" at the arrest of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, but said U.S. President George W.

1. trial -- 3x15

1. trial -- 3x15UN's Annan says new Iraqi govt must come soon2. iran -- 2x22Khamenei says satisfied over arrest of Saddam 3. pope -- 1x30Pope takes swipe at U.S. over Iraq4. israel -- 1x35Israel attempted to kill Saddam in 19925. malaysia -- 4x10Malaysia, RI to step up security on shared border

Religious leaders to gather for peace prayers

Religious leaders to gather for peace prayersSuherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang Around 350 Buddhist monks from 31 countries and a number of prominent Indonesian religious leaders will gather for a peace prayer ceremony on Friday in the Borobudur Temple complex in Magelang, Central Java.

Indofood CEO resigns over internal dispute

Indofood CEO resigns over internal disputeRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The world's largest instant noodle maker, PT Indofood Sukses Makmur, announced on Tuesday that its chief executive officer, Eva Riyanti Hutapea, had tendered her resignation from the company, amid reports of...

On higher school standards

On higher school standards On Nov. 15, 2003, an article I wrote was printed in The Jakarta Post titled RI's school should target higher standards.It is apparent that article has led to discussions, and concerns have been expressed.

Officer chairs corruption body

Officer chairs corruption bodyMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Lawmakers elected on Tuesday five leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), but critics expressed doubt over the choices for the anticorruption job, and wondered whether they could live up to public...

Busway going nowhere

Busway going nowhere We can already envisage what the traffic will be like once the busway project is up and running. The congestion starts at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and "Hot Plate Harry" traffic circle in Kebayoran, South Jakarta.

Former justice wants trial stopped

Former justice wants trial stoppedP.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Former judge Adi Andojo told a hearing on Tuesday that the civil suit made against him by a client of the now-defunct Anticorruption Joint Team (TGPTPK) should be considered expired.

2 x 22

2 x 22Nine officials quizzed over runaway train JP/5/lampung2 x 27Lampung council challenges Alzier's election annulment JP/5/Biksu1 x 45Religious leaders to gather for peace prayers

Sigit helps turn around BII

Sigit helps turn around BII Sigit Pramono has proven himself as a reliable banker when the government trusted him to pilot the ailing Bank Internasional Indonesia in September 2002, after the government rescued the bank from the late 1990s financial crisis.

Thailand seeks barter deal

Thailand seeks barter deal BANGKOK: Major shrimp exporter Thailand has proposed a barter deal to trade its prawns to purchase Airbus planes, and warned it could turn to U.S. competitor Boeing if Airbus doesn't bite, a report said on Tuesday.

122 projects set for inauguration in NTB

122 projects set for inauguration in NTB MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Vice President Hamzah Haz will dedicate 122 development projects financed by the 2003 national budget in Teluk Sintong, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), on Dec. 23.

City holds closed-door meeting on 2004 budget

City holds closed-door meeting on 2004 budgetBambang Nurbianto and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Jakarta administration and the city council debated the draft 2004 city budget behind closed doors on Tuesday, sparking immediate criticism of collusion and corruption.

Parties to join PNI Marhaneisme

Parties to join PNI Marhaneisme JAKARTA: Some small parties that failed to pass the National Elections Commission (KPU) screening have expressed interest in joining the Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaenisme), led by Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, a daughter of founding president Sukarno.

Some good reasons not to promote Mangku Pastika, yet

Some good reasons not to promote Mangku Pastika, yetI Wayan Juniartha, Journalist, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali The current hot issue among journalists assigned to Bali Police headquarters could be summed up in just six words: "Mangku Pastika out, Gorries Mere in".

Unilever Indonesia appoints new president

Unilever Indonesia appoints new presidentThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Leading consumer product company PT Unilever Indonesia will have an Indonesian national as its new president next year as the company continues to post strong growth.Starting Jan.

Mega ends trip, concludes counterterror deal with Pakistan

Mega ends trip, concludes counterterror deal with PakistanAgencies, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri completed on Tuesday her state visit to Pakistan, where she inked trade and antiterrorism agreements with the South Asian country.

Tangerang now has mobile library

Tangerang now has mobile library TANGERANG: To improve the quality of human resources, the municipal administration kicked off on Tuesday the operation of mobile libraries.Inaugurating the launch, Mayor Wahidin Halim expressed hope the library could help to stimulate residents' reading habits and...

Cialis hit RI market

Cialis hit RI market JAKARTA: The Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Body (BPOM) has approved the distribution of the erectile dysfunction (ED) drug Cialis, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly Indonesia said in a statement recently.

Indonesia Power to build power plants

Indonesia Power to build power plantsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Power firm PT Indonesia Power said it would build a number of small capacity power plants in Jambi province and East Kalimantan province next year to meet domestic power demand.

Nine officials quizzed over runaway train

Nine officials quizzed over runaway trainYuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung State-owned railway company PT KAI said on Tuesday nine employees were being questioned in relation to a recent accident involving a train that rolled without a driver for up to 50 kilometers into the center of the...

Priok witnesses make wild U-turns in testimony

Priok witnesses make wild U-turns in testimonyUrip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Two witnesses for the adhoc human rights trial of Col. Sutrisno Mascung and 10 of his subordinates gave on Tuesday testimony contradictory to his own previous statements regarding the massacre in Tanjung Priok in...

Air Force HQ probes chopper crash

Air Force HQ probes chopper crash JAKARTA: Air Force Headquarters has decided to reopen the investigation into the crash of a Twinpack helicopter in Bogor, West Java, last October."We need to conduct a follow-up investigation to get more detailed information about the cause of the incident," Air...

'Disabled people need special facilities'

'Disabled people need special facilities' The government figure shows that 3.11 percent of the country's 220 million population are people with disabilities. Small in number perhaps, but access for the disabled to public places and facilities are often neglected.

Overlooked mailboxes loyally stand duty

Overlooked mailboxes loyally stand dutyEvi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Internet and short messaging service (SMS) have done away with personal letters for most people living in a big city like Jakarta.

Tangerang now has mobile library

Tangerang now has mobile library JAKARTA: The South Jakarta District Court delayed on Tuesday the handing down of the verdict on a civil lawsuit filed by Texmaco textile group company against Tempo magazine, because one of the panel of judges had been promoted, and assigned to another province.

IBRA official quizzed over misuse of Rp 20.9t

IBRA official quizzed over misuse of Rp 20.9tAbdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The police have started investigating alleged misuses of Account 502 by questioning a senior official at the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA).

Insecurity threatens next year's elections in Aceh, Todung says

Insecurity threatens next year's elections in Aceh, Todung saysNani Farida and Teuku Agam Muzakkir, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Lhokseumawe In a bid to ensure that the Acehnese can exercise their right to vote in the upcoming elections, rights campaigner Todung Mulya Lubis has called for a delay...

Govt to give Sweden more evidence

Govt to give Sweden more evidence JAKARTA: A number of government officials will leave for Sweden to hand over more evidence linking the exiled leader of the Aceh separatist rebels to crimes in the province, a police officer said on Tuesday.

Bigger allowance for troops in Aceh

Bigger allowance for troops in Aceh JAKARTA: The House of Representatives has recommended the that government increase the daily allowance for police and military personnel deployed in the war-torn province of Aceh.

Cheaper Indonesian palm oil cuts Malaysia's exports to India

Cheaper Indonesian palm oil cuts Malaysia's exports to IndiaAgence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur Malaysian crude palm oil (CPO) exports to India have nearly halved since 2001 and are expected to dip further next year due to lower pricing by rival Indonesia, a report said on Tuesday.

China to hold trade fair in Indonesia

China to hold trade fair in Indonesia After trade promotions here by the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and India, the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China will hold its fourth Engineering and Technology Fair in Jakarta from Dec. 20 to Dec. 23.

Ministry of Finance completes bonds issue for this year

Ministry of Finance completes bonds issue for this yearThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government issued on Tuesday some Rp 3.2 trillion (US$378.70 million)-worth of bonds, which is the last bond issue for this year aimed to help ease the burden on the current state budget.

Police arrest, beat students protesting general elections

Police arrest, beat students protesting general electionsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Central Jakarta police arrested 54 protesting students, six of them girls, just as they were dispersing after staging an anti- election rally at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Tuesday...

Rupiah Retes Dec.16

Rupiah Retes Dec.16 Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 6,684.07 5,936.57 6,343.54 6,276.86 Brunei dollar 1 5,266.55 4,677.99 4,998.24 4,946.14 Canadian dollar 1 6,834.94 6,070.04 6,486.73 6,417.99 Swiss franc 1 7,050.43 6,263.72 6,691.24 6,622.

MUI commission bans bank interest

MUI commission bans bank interestDadan Wijaksana and A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) Edict Commission said on Tuesday that it had agreed to declare interest on money as riba, which is forbidden under Islamic law, but MUI deputy chairman Din Syamsuddin said...

Rape cases soar by 25 percent over past year amid legal limbo

Rape cases soar by 25 percent over past year amid legal limboDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite a declining trend among most recorded crimes in the city, the number of rape cases has significantly soared -- by 25 percent -- this year.

Security protection

Security protection for TKI?From Warta KotaReports on Indonesian migrant workers (TKI), particularly women, who have become a target of extortion and robbery upon their arrival home, should arouse our concern.

Five killed in traffic accident

Five killed in traffic accident SITUBONDO, East Java: Five people were killed and dozens of others injured when a bus crashed into a tree in Situbondo regency, East Java, on Tuesday after managing to avoid a collision with a minivan coming from the opposite direction.

Price war in generic drugs intensifies: Lawmaker

Price war in generic drugs intensifies: LawmakerDewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A legislator expressed concern on Tuesday about a price war among the country's generic medicine producers, fearing it would prompt drug trade in the black market.

House endorses bill on industrial disputes

House endorses bill on industrial disputesRidwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Employers can no longer arbitrarily dismiss their workers as a new bill on industrial dispute settlement that the House of Representatives endorsed on Tuesday allows a dismissed worker to directly bring his or...

Death toll from landslides rises to 5

Death toll from landslides rises to 5 MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The death toll from Monday's landslides that hit four villages in Majene regency, South Sulawesi, rose to five on Tuesday after another body was found by rescuers.

Tommy to testify on Jan. 13

Tommy to testify on Jan. 13 JAKARTA: Central Jakarta District Court presiding Judge Saparudin Hasibuan adjourned legal action initiated by Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra till Jan. 13 because the plaintiff was ill Tuesday.

Govt urges House to accept mining proposal

Govt urges House to accept mining proposalFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government called on the House of Representatives to immediately allow 13 mining companies to resume activities in protected forests because investment in the mining sector is running thin.

1. BNI: 48 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18

1. BNI: 48 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18atas: New BNI chief pledges to strengthen internal supervision bawah:Sigit helps turn around BII 2. MEGA: 36 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 28 Mega slammed after she complains 3. FORKOT: 30 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 27 Police arrest, beat students protesting general elections 4.

Siswono eyes 2004 presidential election through PSI

Siswono eyes 2004 presidential election through PSIKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Former transmigration minister Siswono Yudhohusodo has formally accepted the request of the newly established Indonesian Unity Party (PSI) to be its presidential candidate and pledged to help the party...

Cambodia to destroy 200 missiles

Cambodia to destroy 200 missilesCAMBODIA: Cambodia plans to destroy more than 200 Soviet-era surface-to-air missiles to ensure that the weapons do not fall into the hands of international terrorists, officials said on Tuesday.

1. BILL: 1 LINE, 36 COUNTS

1. BILL: 1 LINE, 36 COUNTS New bill allows fired workers to sue boss2. ACEH: 2 LINES, 28 COUNTSInsecurity threatens next year's elections in Aceh, Susilo says 3. BPPN: 2 LINES, 19 COUNTSIBRA official quizzed over misuse of Rp 20.9t 4.

Ratifying amity and co-operation

Ratifying amity and co-operation The Tokyo Declaration and the ASEAN-Japan Plan of Action contain a host of measures to enhance relations and co-operation between the two sides, ranging from human trafficking and terrorism to drugs and piracy.

Lampung council challenges Alzier's election annulment

Lampung council challenges Alzier's election annulmentOyos Saroso HN, The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung, Lampung Lampung legislative council leaders said on Tuesday that they will this week file a request for a judicial review of the central government's recent decision to annul the gubernatorial...

Mega slammed after she complains

Mega slammed after she complainsZakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri has been criticized for her reprimand of national athletes and their performances in the just-concluded Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, with sports officials urging the president to personally visit...

TV Program: Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003

TV Program: Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003.TB.30" 1.00" TVRI .TB.30" .90" 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi7:30 Music8:00 TV Drama: Kemelut Cinta9:00 Entertainment News: Show Biz10:00 Game Show: Dibisikin11:30 Singing Contest: Konteswara 12:30 p.m.

Seeing red at the new stylish Melt

Seeing red at the new stylish MeltBroto Dharma, Contributor, Jakarta The 9th floor of BRI II in Central Jakarta has been a road less traveled for this foodie since the celebrated Cappellini's closed its doors a few years back.

Unilever Indonesia appoints new president

Unilever Indonesia appoints new presidentThe Jakarta Post Jakarta Leading consumer product company PT Unilever Indonesia will have an Indonesian national as its new president next year as the company continues to post strong growth. Starting Jan.

Malaysia, RI to step up security on shared border

Malaysia, RI to step up security on shared borderAgence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia and Indonesia on Tuesday pledged to cooperate in the fight against illegal logging, smuggling and piracy at their common border on Borneo island by increasing security.